Fannin County

Commissioners Court Meeting

By: Sarah Meek

The Fannin County Commissioners Court met on Monday, January 24th. They approved the minutes of the December and January meetings.

The Court approved Stan Barker as new member to Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson County Administrative Board for Department of Juvenile Services.

The Court Discussed the matters concerning the courthouse phone system. The phone lines are old and other lines cannot be added. Jeff Airie, the Fannin County Auditor, had two suggestions. One being to just fix the phones in the building for around $2,000, and the other option was to replace all the telephones in the building, which would cost around $10,000. Judge Derrell Hall proposed that they go with replacing all the phones, but the court decided to look into it a little more before making a decision.

At Monday’s meeting the court approved for Precinct 3 to purchase a truck and Precinct 4 to purchase equipment. The Court also approved the Treasurer’s report for December of 2004, and the Auditor’s report for November of 2004.

Activities Spotlight Community-Wide Initiative

WHAT: Bonham Businesses will join businesses across the State of Texas in participating in Groundhog Job Shadow Day. On this day, LH Rather students will get an up-close look at how the skills they learn in school are put into action in the workplace. They will shadow a workplace mentor as he or she goes through a normal day on the job.

WHEN: Please note the following Groundhog Job Shadow Day activities: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005 - 9:00am-2:00pm

Workforce Texoma, Chamber of Commerce, Bonham Journal, Wal-Mart, Bonham High School, General Cable, GE-Zenith Controls, Strong Medical Supply, and Bonham Barber Stylist

Job Shadow is designed to give kids an opportunity to "shadow" an adult during their daily work activities. It inspires kids to be enthusiastic about their studies by showing them the correlation between what they learn in school and how it is used in the workplace. In 2004, more than one million young people and 100,000 businesses participated.

Join Joy and Jane "Tea for Two or Two for Tea"

Tuesday, February 8, 2005

A party is not a party without good food and good conversation with good friends and neighbors.

Joy McGuire will demonstrate "The Joy of Cooking" with easy recipes for entertaining and Jane Gehalo will delight her audience with "A Time for Hats" at The Woodmoore, Assisted Living Community, 1200 W. Russell Ave, Bonham, TX 75418.

Kiwanis Meeting January 25, 2005

Matt Martin and Jeff Martin of the Center for Heath and Chiropractic presented an informative program on the detection and prevention of balance disorders to the Kiwanis Club of Bonham on Tuesday, January 25, 2005. They demonstrated a high tech plate that screens for balance disorders and measures a person’s tendency to fall, pinpointing areas that can be treated before a damaging fall occurs.

The Kiwanis Club of Bonham meets every Tuesday at noon at Shumardii’s Restaurant on Hwy. 121. Join us!!

The IRS says it hears many reasons from taxpayers for not filing a tax return. You may not have known whether you were required to file. Whatever the reason, it’s best to file your tax return as soon as you can. If you need help, even with a late tax return, the IRS is ready to help you.

The failure to file a return can be costly - whether you end up owing more or missing out on a refund. If you owe taxes, a delay in filing may result in a "failure to file" penalty and interest charges. The longer you delay, the larger these charges grow.

There is no penalty for failure to file if you are due a refund. However, you cannot get a refund without filing a tax return. But, if you wait too long to file, you may risk losing the refund altogether. The deadline for claiming refunds is three years after the return due date.

Individuals who are entitled to the Earned Income Tax Credit must file their return to claim the credit even if they are not otherwise required to file.

Whether or not you must file a tax return will depend upon a number of factors, including your filing status, age, and gross income. Some taxpayers are required to file whether or not they owe money. Even if you do not meet any of the requirements, you should file a return if you are due a refund.

For more information on how to file a tax return for a prior year, visit the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov, call the IRS toll-free Tax Help Line for Individuals at 1-800-829-1040 or visit your local IRS office.

Drug Safety Concerns May Raise Different Questions for Women

Jennifer Wider, M.D.
Society for Women’s Health Research
January 27, 2005

When the popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) arthritis drug Vioxx was pulled off the market on Sept. 30 because a study showed potential for increased risk of heart problems, questions about the safety of many drugs were raised. The Food and Drug Administration advised the more than two million patients worldwide using Vioxx to consult with a physician about alternative medications. However, doctors may not know how to direct their patients when it comes to arthritis medications and other pain relievers.

"Since Vioxx is no longer on the market, physicians are not prescribing it anymore," Jeffrey N. Katz, M.D., a rheumatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Mass., said. "As there is uncertainty about which of the alternatives makes most sense, I recommend having detailed conversations with patients and making a joint decision based on their preferences and what we know at this point."

The safety and efficacy of the recently developed group of NSAIDs called COX-2 selective agents, which includes Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx, will be scrutinized by the FDA in a special three-day February meeting. Questions have also been raised about the safety of older NSAIDs, like naproxen (available under trade names such as Aleve and Naprosyn) after a study involving the drug showed some evidence of increased risk of cardiovascular events, when compared to placebo. The FDA quickly advised patients who are taking over-the-counter naproxen products to carefully follow the instructions on the label and not exceed recommended doses.

The risks of these drugs may be different for women and men, but few studies have been conducted to examine gender differences.

"There are no known studies that compare women and men on Vioxx, and sex differences were not mentioned when studies about this and other drugs raised concerns about heart problems," Sherry Marts, Ph.D., vice president of scientific affairs at the Society for Women’s Health Research in Washington, D.C., said.

"This is a problem because heart disease affects women and men differently," Marts said. "It kills 500,000 American women each year, over 50,000 more women than men, and strikes women about 10 years later than men. Women are more likely than men to have a second heart attack within a year of the first one. That’s why doctors and patients need more detailed information about drugs that can cause heart problems."

Many of the drugs pulled from the market in recent years have had greater health risks for women, according to a 2001 drug safety study conducted by the United States General Accounting Office. The risks may be related to physiological or hormonal differences between men and women, but more studies are needed to make appropriate conclusions.

"For some of the drugs that were withdrawn, there were more adverse events in women, but more women took the drug, so there was no way to tell if the higher occurrence was due to biology or just the number of women taking it," Marts said. "However, for some drugs, the GAO found that even though similar numbers of men and women took the drug, more adverse events were reported in women."

Whether you are a woman or a man, taking over-the-counter or prescription drugs poses risks. The FDA will only approve a drug if its clinical benefits outweigh the potential to do harm. Medications are often rigorously tested and the FDA examines data from thousands of patients before a drug gets the stamp of approval.

When a drug is pulled off the market, patients can be confused. Medications once thought to be safe are all of sudden unavailable and the use of related medication may seem undesirable. It is vital for patients to speak with their doctors about the pros and cons of specific medications and to understand the risks associated with taking any drug.

Open communication is an integral part of good health care. Marts recommends that patients ask their doctors the following questions when evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of potential medications:

• How long has this drug been on the market?

• How much experience do you have prescribing this drug?

• What side effects have your other patients reported? What serious side effects should I look for?

• Do you know of any particular problems and risks for women (or men) taking this drug?

The goal is to fully understand your medications and the care you receive to maximize the benefits and reduce the potential harm to your health.

Boy Scouts Report

By: Craig Jones

Hello! I’m with Boy Scout Troop 260 here in Bonham. Let me just give you a brief introduction to my troop. We meet every Tuesday at the Family Life Center. The First United Methodist Church is our sponsor; they provide us with transportation to and from events, as well as our space in the Life Center. We are very grateful to them.

We have campouts many times a year, my first one with this troop was the Dog Trails last year. This is one campout where our hard work combined with our listening skills earns us money to assist with other events we do. We also have community service projects that we do, For instance, we went to the VA Hospital on Memorial Day last year for their annual Memorial Day Ceremony.

We have numerous members of our scout troop. Soon our troop will be growing, once again when the local Weebelo troops choose which Boy Scout troop to join.

I will be going to what is called The Jamboree this summer. It is held once every four years. There will be boys from all over the nation at this event. I will be writing many articles about the preparation for this huge national event. So, stay tuned to the Fannin County Special for lots of interesting and exciting news about your local Boy Scouts.

Blinn College Announces Academic Honor Students

BRYAN -- Blinn College has announced its academic honor students for the 2004 fall semester on its Bryan campus.

The college recognizes those students who take a minimum of 12 college credit hours and earn a grade point average of 3.25 to 3.74 as Distinguished Students and those with at least a 3.75 as President’s Scholars.

James Froelich of Bonham has been named to the Distinguished Students list.

When Andrew Carnegie embarked on his philanthropic effort to improve the quality of life for all Americans, he did not set up clinics or soup kitchens. He invested in libraries, reasoning that we must feed people’s minds as well as their bodies. Since books are the stored knowledge, art, and experience of mankind, libraries are a treasury of humanity. The accumulated wealth of human experience is freely available to anyone, rich or poor, who makes the effort to use these facilities.

Following his philosophy, Carnegie provided grants to various Texas communities which helped construct thirty-two public library buildings in communities ranging in size from the booming city of Dallas to the small mining town of Pittsburg.

Since that time, public libraries have continued as a unique public service institution in our democracy. In Texas alone, we have 560 public libraries. They are free to all citizens, and serve every age group from toddler to senior citizen. They unlock the world for young and old through books, computers, audio-visual resources, and important databases such as TexShare, which is a statewide consortium of academic libraries, public libraries, and libraries of clinical medicine administered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. It shares staff expertise and library resources while it pursues joint purchasing agreements for information services to lower costs for its members.

I am a proud ally of our state public library system because I personally gained so much from libraries. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I supported modernization opportunities for public libraries through the Museum and Library Services Act. This extended authorization of support for library services and technology through FY 2009. These grants help library systems install advanced technology. I also support measures to provide teacher education, library and media specialist training, as well as preschool and teacher aid certification to individuals so they may better use these advances in the classroom or instructional process.

Public library funding in the United States is a unique combination of local, state, and federal efforts. At the local level, public library service is shaped by the community. Money is allocated by city councils, library districts, or by county commissioners courts. States add supplemental funding designed to foster library cooperation through the sharing of books and materials between libraries.

The federal role is to help extend the access of libraries across the country and the world through unique information technology networks. Through direct grants to state library agencies, federal funds promote, stimulate and support library innovation.

Public libraries form a remarkable cooperative system. If you consider that the average price of a hardback book is approximately $30, and that Texas public libraries circulate over 90 million items per year, that adds up to more than $2.7 billion in annual transactions. The value of the knowledge exchanged in the course of those transactions is incalculable.

Texas public libraries also serve as cultural havens for their communities. They are places for children to learn and develop reading skills. From preschool reading activities to grade school, children benefit from use of the local public library. Teen-agers use public libraries to help with school work and enrich their lives. Adults use public libraries to enjoy a good book, get books on tape, or to learn "how to" do any number of things, such as fix their car or succeed in business. Senior citizens are the new pioneers in the preservation of family histories through study of their family heritage. Public library genealogy collections and TexShare databases aid this important effort. Citizens of all age levels also use their libraries as public meeting places to discuss local issues. The public library is an integral part of community life.

Like you, I have used public libraries to enrich my life, to learn, and to succeed in my work. When I was in elementary school, I read every biography in the library. They gave me inspiration which is with me to this day. We can all support our local public libraries in many ways…through volunteering, contributing to their resources, or using the facilities. It is an effort worth making.

International Wear Red Day

Written by Kim Rice Peters

Heart Disease is the number one killer of women in both countries. One is six women will die from heart disease every year according to the Cardiothoracic Centre.

Women are known for being in touch with matters of the heart when it comes to emotions, yet statistics show only eight percent of women think heart disease is a major concern.

Some of the diseases and conditions that affect the heart are: diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart arrhythmias and of course heart attack and stroke.

A few suggestions to be sure your heart is in optimal condition are:

• Get regular check-ups.

• Discuss your risk for heart disease and stroke with your doctor.

• Learn the warning signs of a stroke and heart attack.

• Follow your doctors recommendations, including taking medications if prescribed.

• Take action to help reduce your risks.

You can find out more about heart disease and The Red Dress Campaign at www.americanheart.org

For Press Only- I can be reached at 903-813-6538 for questions if needed.

The Rural Caucus held its first meeting of the 79th Legislative Session on January 12. Last session the Caucus was 80+ members strong. Current membership of the Caucus is 50 members and growing. Membership in the Rural Caucus is open to all House and Senate Members. Membership is also open to the Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner; Susan Combs is the current Ag Commissioner. Representative Robby Cook from Eagle Lake is the current chairman of the Caucus, and has served as a board member since it began in 1999. I have been a member of the Rural Caucus since I began my first legislative session two years ago.

Caucuses exist as informational sources for members of the Texas Legislature; they are groups that are formed around a common interest or issue. There are many other caucuses which legislators can decide to join. For example, I am also a member of the Sportsman’s Caucus and the Tourism Caucus.

Throughout this legislative session, the Rural Caucus will hold meetings and have briefings by guest speakers. The discussions during these meetings will provide members with valuable insight into the unique issues that affect the rural areas of Texas. The Caucus seeks to provide an open environment in which members can discuss relevant issues and seek possible solutions. Frequently, the members of the Caucus will develop a unified stance on specific legislation or proposals so that they might more effectively represent the interests of their constituents.

In its opening meeting, the Rural Caucus identified numerous issues for future meetings: school finance; transportation issues; agriculture exemptions and other finance issues; economic development; higher education; and natural resource issues. Most of these issues are important to rural, urban and suburban Texans; however, the Caucus exists to provide information specifically on the impact to rural Texas. The Caucus strives to be a cohesive group that formulates policy to benefit all Texans, whether they reside in urban, suburban or rural areas and regardless of their party affiliation. As this busy legislative session progresses, the Rural Caucus will be an useful source of knowledge and information for its members.

Please feel free to contact me if I may be of assistance to you with any matter of state government. You can contact me by writing to P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 or by e-mailing me at larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us.

Changing The Timing Of Cancer Vaccines

HOUSTON -- (Jan. 24, 2005) -- A molecule specially modified by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine can reset the biological clock for cancer vaccines, potentially making them more potent.

In a report that appears online in Nature Medicine, Dr. David Spencer and colleagues describe their method of delaying the time at which crucial dendritic cells are activated by the immune system. This prolongs the time during which the cancer vaccines can undertake their task, he said.

Dendritic cells are important because they present to the immune system the proteins or antigens that cause the immune system to go into action. They are key to cancer vaccines that seek to alert the immune system to presence of cancer by making it aware of tumor antigens or proteins that are unique to that malignancy.

"Once you activate dendritic cells, you turn on a biological clock," said Spencer, an associate professor of immunology at BCM. "Dendritic cells have a finite life span after they are activated."

The makers of cancer vaccines would like to activate the dendritic cells, expose them to the tumor antigens and then reinject them into patients. Once in the body, they would migrate to the lymph nodes where they interact with specific immune system operatives called T-cells, activating them to attack the cancer. However, the process can take as long as a day, reducing the period during which the dendritic cells are active and can accomplish their work.

However, using a drug that results in the linking of two identical molecules (a process called dimerization), Spencer and colleagues found that they could wait until the dendritic cells got to the lymph nodes to activate them. That significantly extends the period during which the cells can remain active and, in turn, activate the immune system’s T-cells.

Spencer steered graduate student Brent Hanks toward manipulating dendritic cells, but credits Hanks with settling upon a molecule called CD40 that could be used to activate the dendritic cells after they reached the lymph nodes.

"This was a key decision, since CD40 is likely the most potent activation molecule on these cells," he said. "Our dendritic cells live longer in the lymph nodes and we think they are more potent when the get there."

"We think because of the special attributes of this approach, it should have a better chance of working in patients whose immune systems are already attenuated by disease or prior treatment and should be complementary to other approaches already out there," said Spencer.

Others who participated included Drs. Kevin M. Slawin, Rana A K Singh, Michael Barry, Jianghong Jiang, and Weitao Song, all of BCM.

AUSTIN- The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) will present the Fifth Annual Purchasing and HUB Connection, a forum for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs), on Tuesday, February 8, 2005. The forum will be from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Texas Workforce Commission, 1117 Trinity St., Room 304T, in Austin. There is no charge to attend.

The event will inform vendors about TWC and TRS purchasing needs, thereby improving their opportunities of obtaining contract awards. Representatives from both agencies will discuss services from professional through grounds maintenance, contracting opportunities and the mentor-protege program.

TWC is a state agency dedicated to help Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and the services it offers in unison with local workforce development boards, call (512)463-8556 or visit www.texasworkforce.org.

TRS delivers retirement and related benefits that have been authorized by the Texas Legislature and manages a trust fund established to finance member benefits. More than 1 million public education employees, higher education employees and retirees currently participate in the system. For additional details on TRS, visit www.trs.state.tx.us.

For registration information, contact:

David Camarillo TWC HUB Program Specialist (512)463-2411 david.camarillo@twc.state.tx.us

Debbie Pina TRS HUB Coordinator (512)542-6569 debbie.pina@trs.state.tx.us

Braum’s Store In Bonham To Offer Fresh Meat And Produce

Oklahoma City, OK – January 20, 2005 – Braum’s is pleased to announce that beginning Saturday, February 5th, the Braum’s store in Bonham will offer a new line of fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables (with over 100 new items) in what the Braum family is calling their "Fresh Market".

"Adding fresh meat and produce to our selection of dairy and bakery products was a natural progression for us," said Drew Braum, President. "We’ve built our reputation on offering fresh, quality products. With our expertise in refrigeration and the fact that we deliver fresh product to our stores every 48 hours, we can offer the freshest meats, fruits, and vegetables available," Braum said. "Our customers tell us they really enjoy the larger selection – it makes their grocery shopping experience a lot easier!"

Braum’s new "Fresh Market" offers fresh USDA inspected choice beef including Rib Eye, New York Strip, T-Bones, Top Sirloin, Top Round, Boneless Cube Steak, and and Round Roast. They also offer Smoked Sausage, Chicken Breasts, Ham, Pork Chops and more.

Braum’s new line of fresh fruits and vegetables includes lettuce, salad mixes, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, bananas, oranges, pears, apples, seasonal fruit, cut fruit and more.

By May, the company plans to open a "Fresh Market" in 90 Texas and surrounding area Braum’s stores which will complete the companywide "Fresh Market" expansion. Locations include Rockwall, Rowlett, Garland, Terrell, Mesquite, Richardson, Carrollton, Plano, Lewisville, Flower Mound, The Colony, Allen, McKinney, Gainesville, Denton, Commerce, Paris, Denison, Sulphur Springs, Mount Pleasant, Tyler, Athens, and Dallas.

Bill and Mary Braum opened their first Braum’s store in 1968. Today, there are 280 Braum’s stores located in five states – Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. The company continues to be family-owned and operated.

Kiwanis Meeting

Jeanette Bowen, Administrator at the Fairview Nursing Home, was our featured guest speaker at the Bonham Kiwanis Club meeting held on Tuesday, January 18, 2005. She is actively involved with the SNAP center and relayed the continuing needs of the Meals on Wheels program. If you are interested in donating money, or food items to the program, they welcome all support from the community to keep this worthwhile venture successful. Please feel free to join us on any Tuesday at Shumardi’s Restaurant on Hwy. 121.

Fannin County Family Crisis Center
Volunteer of the Quarter-Sherral Roberts

Sherral was born in Honey Grove, TX. She graduated high school at Sam Rayburn High School. Sherral has three children, one of which is deceased. She has had various jobs including working for the District Attorney’s Office and being an investigator for the Sheriff’s Department and Drug Task Force in Oklahoma. She now works at Knives of Alaska in Pottsboro, TX.
Sherral has recently gone through the volunteer training at FCFCC. She has helped with public awareness, fund-raising, and already takes the hotline for the center. The crisis center is very fortunate to have a dedicated volunteer such as Sherral.
If you would like to become a volunteer for the crisis center contact Debbie Freeman, Volunteer Coordinator, at 903-583-7000 or 903-583-7694.

Filing Your Taxes? Learn About Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) The Average 2003 EITC Tax Refund For Texas Families Was $2,000

"Helping Texas families is one of our top priorities, and EITC does just that," said Governor Rick Perry. "I would like to see 100 percent of eligible Texas families apply for EITC. Last year more than 2 million Texas families took advantage of EITC, with an average tax refund of $2,000. Still, there were nearly 600,000 eligible families who did not apply. We need to get the word out to everyone who is eligible."

EITC is a federal tax credit for people who work, but don’t earn high incomes. Taxpayers who qualify and claim the credit could pay less federal tax, pay no tax or even get a cash payment. The outreach program is funded with $500,000 from the state’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant and is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

The Heart of Texas Workforce Board began Phase I of the "Earn it. Claim it. Save it." outreach campaign in 2002, which provided EITC awareness education to employers and working families, tax preparation assistance, and financial literacy classes. That program currently includes the area served by the Heart of Texas Workforce Board and will expand to include the North Central Texas and Central Texas Workforce Development Areas. The workforce boards are among 28 boards across Texas that provide local service delivery for the Texas Workforce Commission.

The program’s target audiences include businesses interested in helping employees with EITC, community leaders and lower-income working families. The goal of the program is to reach as many working Texans as possible through EITC awareness education, development of marketing materials, and creation of television and radio public service announcements.

Phase II will expand the program into the areas served by the Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Board, Cameron Works Workforce Board, the South Texas Workforce Board and the Gulf Coast Workforce Board, where more than 770,000 Texans are eligible for EITC based on income.

"This initiative will help working families in the Valley understand the tax credits available to them, providing badly needed funds for household necessities," said Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Board Chairman Sam Vale. "In 2003, EITC claims brought more than $300 million to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, but sadly, more than $60 million was left on the table by eligible claimants."

Income from EITC provided more than $4 billion federal dollars to low income Texas families on 2003 federal tax returns. Texas ranks first in the nation in the amount of EITC dollars claimed by its taxpayers in 2003: State EITC Recipients EITC Dollars

Texas 2,041,566 $4,085,762,059

California 2,284,595 $4,073,458,195

Florida 1,479,619 $2,686,960,647

New York 1,398,182 $2,472,156,439

Georgia 799,095 $1,580,924,267

Bonham- The Fannin County Farm Bureau is sponsoring a "Hearty Farm-Fresh lunch" at the Fannin County Courthouse on February 7, to highlight the farmer’s share of food costs. Food will be served from 11:00 to 1:00.

Fannin County residents will spend the amount a farmer is paid for the products served during the meal, which for lunch is about 37 cents for a hamburger, chips, and a drink. The actual cost of the products for a lunch meal is approximately $2.00, which means the farmer receives only 17.5% of the money consumers pay for food.

"Compared to other expenses facing America’s families, food is a bargain. While Americans must only work until February 7th to pay for their yearly food supply, last year they had to work until mid April just to pay for their taxes," said David Hembree, president of Fannin County Farm Bureau. Families spend just 10 percent of their disposable income on their annual food supply, that portion of spending is paid for just 38 days into the year.

The Fannin County Farm Bureau invites Fannin County residents to share in the national celebration of Food Check-Out Day. Come by and enjoy a hamburger for 37 cents.

Golden Gospel Jubilee

The annual Golden Gospel Jubilee will be back in session this Friday night, February 4 at 7:30 pm. The show will be at the Lake Bonham Hoe-Down located 1/2 mile east of the Lake Bonham Spillway on CR 2610, Bonham, TX. The show will be hosted by Joan Kelton and the "Bluegrass Gospeleers" featuring: Randy Keister, DOn Sharp, Glen Clark, Mike Stroud, Jack Marshall, Gary Monroe and radio personality Bill Ogden from Commerce, TX. Our scheduled special guest will be area known and popular, Bro. Loyd Robertson and his ole time Gospel, with the Homer and Fay Fiarchild Band. Bro. Loyd is a deer friend of ours and we welcome him back to our stage.

Everyone is invited and welcome to an evening of fun and inspiration. Admission is free. Donations are accepted and most appreciated. Thanks to you all for your support. We surly appreciate you and may God truly bless you.

For information call: 903-583-4731 or 903-583-5710.

Brentney Hamilton Invited To Read At Literary Cafe Sponsored By The Dallas Museum Of Art

Brentney Hamilton, a junior student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, was invited to read one of her short stories at the Literary Cafe sponsored by the Dallas Museum of Art on January 21, 2005. She was one of three students chosen from area universities to perform at the Literary Cafe from a large group of entrants.

Brentney graduated from Sam Rayburn High School in 2002 and is currently a student at SMU where she is studying creative writing and film, and hopes to write professionally in the future. Brentney became committed to writing at the age of 12, and has completed over ten short works of fiction hopefully to be published one day.

Brentney is the daughter of Brent and Lisa Hamilton of Telephone, and the granddaughter of Red and Pat Baugh and James and Joyce Hamilton.

Derrell Hall Announces February 7th as Food Check-Out Day

Food in America is rare combination of exceptional quality and inexpensive price, and the average American works about 40 days of each year to earn enough income to buy food for the entire year. Farmers, ranchers and workers in American agribusiness have combined their efforts to ensure that food is one of the great bargains in our nation.

Because agriculture is important to our county, state and nation, and because average Americans will have earned enough to purchase an entire year’s food supply by February 7, I, Derrell Hall, County Judge of Fannin County, do hereby designate February 7 as Food Check-Out Day in Fannin County, and urge our citizens to give due recognition to this notable event.

"Ambassadors for America" Your Country Needs You!

Families hosting ASA International exchange students are becoming "Ambassadors for America". Now, more than ever, America needs volunteer host families to step forward and share their family with high school students from around the world. American Scholastic Associates International, (ASAI) exchange students come with the purpose of learning about their family, their school and their community. By embracing the culture of their family, exchange students learn about the true American. Your family will be matched with students having similar interests and hobbies to choose from.

Being a student exchange "Ambassador for America" is America’s best way of making diplomacy more effective against the negative image of the United States that is often put forth around the world. Families like yours are needed now more than ever to help protect the future for our children and grandchildren. To learn more, call ASAI’s local representative, Larisa Waloski at 972-625-0391 or you may call 877-562-7135 for more information.

You may also email: lawaloski@hotmail.com

Troop 52 Attends Merit Badge University

On January 22^nd, Troop 52 took 19 Scouts to Paris Junior College to attend Merit Badge University. Merit Badge University is a two-day opportunity, January 22^nd and February 5^th, for Boy Scouts to earn merit badges from Aviation to Citizenship in the Nation to Farm Mechanics to Veterinary Medicine. In total, there are 27 different subjects for the boys to choose from.

Merit Badge University is one of two primary opportunities, along with Summer Camp, for Boy Scouts to earn merit badges needed to advance in rank through Eagle. The classes are fun, informative, and relevant. Volunteers from specific vocations teach the classes that are applicable to the badge, i.e. nurses teach the First Aid merit badge, electronic professionals teach the Electronics merit badge, etc.

The following Boy Scouts from Troop 52 participated in this weekend’s session of Merit Badge University: Jacob Wheeler, Trey Wheeler, Nick Hamby, Blake Frazier, Colby Bockman, Franklin Meade, Nate Nichols, Nathan Orr, Russell Ryman, Chris Smith, Randy Hill, Dylan Allen, Ryan Dickerson, Christopher Glatt, Nolen Hughes, Zach Kateeb, Tanner Long, Chris Orr and John Reeder. Accompanying the Scouts were Kim Wheeler and Karen Frazier. Attending adult training provided in conjunction with Merit Badge University were Charles Dickerson and Lloyd Long.

For information regarding Troop 52, please contact Scoutmaster David Wheeler at 903 ­640-1869, or visit our web site: www.troop52.com.

Dallas Cowboy Cheerleading Sweetheart Competition 2004

Alexis Anderson and Candace Rich of Bonham got to dance solo at the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading on October 24th 2004. Alexis Anderson danced to Mambo #5 and Candace Rich danced to Girl Got To Rock for their solo dances. They got to have pictures taken with the cheerleaders and got to go to their autographs and talk to them. That is every girls dream to get to dance in Texas stadium the same place that the cheerleaders dance and there were thousands of other dances from everywhere. Before the night was over the cheerleaders danced for all of the girls. One thing Alexis and Candace said it was so neat because the cheerleaders were walking around and would just stop and talk to them. That was so cool. In April they will be starting going to competition for this year with their dance friends. They have fun doing this. They worked so hard at their families and friends will be by their side all the way for their support.

Troop 52 Sponsors Webelos Campout

On January 14’’, eight Scouts from Troop 52 hosted Webelos from Packs 54 and 260 at Timber Creek camp on Lake Bonham. The one-night campout was organized to introduce the Webelos to the increased outdoor activities that await them when they bridge over to Boy Scouts. Activities included fire starting, rope burning, outdoor cooking, campsite setup, and rocket launching.

Even though temperatures dipped below freezing, allowing the boys to earn the Polar Bear award for camping in sub-freezing temperatures, the excitement and enthusiasm of the boys was as high as ever. Over the next couple of months, these Webelos Scouts will make a decision to join one of the three Boy Scout programs in Bonham (Troop 52, Troop 260, or Troop 1910), all of which are quality programs. Whichever unit has the pleasure of welcoming these wonderful young scouts into their Troop will surely be blessed.

The following Boy Scouts from Troop 52 participated in the campout: Jacob Wheeler, Blake Frazier, Trey Wheeler, Christopher Glatt, Nolen Hughes, Zach Kateeb, Tanner Long, and John Reeder. Accompanying the campers were Kim Wheeler, Karen Frazier, Steve Hughes, and Lloyd Long.

For information regarding Troop 52, please contact Scoutmaster David Wheeler at 903-640-1869, or visit our web site: www.troop52.com

Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet

Saturday, February 5, 2005

Finley-Oates Elementary Cafeteria

6:30 p.m.

The Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame will hold its annual inductee banquet on Saturday, February 5, 2005. The banquet will be held at the Finley­ Oates Elementary Cafeteria (Just east of Warrior Stadium) in Bonham, TX beginning at 6:30 p.m. Five individuals will be honored during the annual installation banquet bringing the total membership to 91. The special speaker for the banquet will be Jerry Moore, the head coach of Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. Moore, a 1957 graduate of Bonham High School, has been the Mountaineers head coach for the past 14 years. He has the most wins of any coach in the Southern Conference with a record of 115 - 55. He has been named Southern Conference Coach of the Year on three occasions and AFFCA Region Coach of the Year twice. After graduating from Bonham High School, he moved on to a successful playing career at Baylor University in Waco.

The five new inductees that will be honored on this special evening include: M.B. Nelson, Jim Acree, T.C. (Cotton) Ford, Joe Lynn Dodson and Randy McFarlin.

M.B. Nelson became head coach at Bonham High School in 1955 and turned a losing football program into District Champions.

Jim Acree was hired as head football coach at Bonham High School when M.B. Nelson became the high school principal.

T.C. (Cotton) Ford came to Bonham in 1962 and was an outstanding assistant coach under head coach Jack McElhannon. Nolan Ashmore was also an assistant coach at this time and M.B. Nelson was the BISD Superintendent.

Joe Lynn Dodson coached boys and girls basketball for 38 years, mostly at Savoy. During those 38 years his teams won 32 District Championships.

Randy McFarlin, a 1973 graduate of Bonham High School, became head coach at Daingerfield High School in 1998 and took the team to the state finals in his first year. His biggest wits came in 2002 when Dangerfield defeated Celina, breaking their national winning streak record.

Tickets for the banquet are $10.00 for adults and $7.00 for children 12 or under. Tickets may be purchased at the following locations: Bonham State Bank, American Bank of Texas in Bonham, Fannin Bank of Bonham, First National Bank of Trenton, American Bank of Texas in Leonard, Farmers & Merchants Bank in Ladonia, Farmers & Merchants Bank in Honey Grove, Bonham Chamber of Commerce and Jelly Ford’s in Bonham.

Local Austin College Students Travel the Globe During January

SHERMAN- The first order of business for many Austin College students returning to campus for the spring semester was to return their internal clocks to Central Time after spending the college’s January Term in locations around the globe. During the January Term students take only one course, so many take advantage of the opportunity to participate in travel courses. Other students complete in-depth explorations of academic special interest courses. Still others, examine the world of work through internships and individual studies.

Participants in the foreign travel courses from Fannin County are:

Bonham: Laura Amilin, Spanish Immersion/Argentina and Uruguay, Bonham High School, daughter of Carol and Ronald Amlin.

Honey Grove: Richard Ohr, Italian Renaissance Roots of Modern Science/Italy, Honey Grove High School, son of Ann and Richard Ohr of Honey Grove and Mitzi and Gary Young of Fort Worth, Texas.

Flu Shots Open to All

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) today recommended that the flu vaccine be given to anyone 6 months of age or older. The recommendation is effective immediately.

Since October when a national flu vaccine shortage was announced, federal and state health officials had recommended limiting the flu shot to those in several priority groups. DSHS officials said the goal had been to make sure those at high risk of severe complications from the flu had an adequate chance to get the flu shot.

"Demand for the flu vaccine from priority groups in Texas had been steady for several weeks. But it appears, overall, that those demands are being met. We’re comfortable loosening the recommendations," said Eduardo Sanchez, Texas Commissioner of State Health Services.

He said local public health departments may choose to continue recommending limiting the flu shot to priority groups, depending on the supply and demand situation in their communities.

Noting that flu season officially runs through May, Sanchez said, "It’s not too late to get a flu shot and have it do some good."

He said it does not appear Texas will end up with leftover vaccine.

Flu activity in Texas last week remained at the "widespread" level for the third week in a row. Flu activity classifications range from no activity to sporadic, local, regional and widespread. The widespread classification is used when there is an increase in flu and flu-like illnesses and recent laboratory confirmed flu in at least half of a state’s regions.

The A/Fujian and B/Shanghai forms of the flu virus have been identified in Texas. Both are covered by this season’s vaccine.

People wanting to get a flu shot should contact their doctor, call the 2-1-1 information service or call their local public health department or nearest DSHS regional office.

It takes about two weeks after getting the flu shot for the vaccine to offer maximum protection.

A pneumococcal vaccine also is recommended for people 65 and older and those with chronic health problems to protect against pneumonia caused by pneumococcus bacteria. Pneumonia is often a complication of influenza.

 best of AMERICA RFD-TV Filming MARCH 19TH

There are still some slots available to local horsemen and women to participate in the Best of America by Horseback trail ride event to be filmed for RFD-TV at Lake Fannin on March 19th. The guided trail ride will mark the first such event in the historic wilderness park.

Owned by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the national Grasslands, renewed interest in re-opening the park to the public inspired Fannin County residents to form a nonprofit organization to work with USFS to restore some of the cabins and camping areas in the pristine forest on the bluffs overlooking the Red River. The organization will be the recipient of a generous donation toward that effort by the Best of America by Horseback television producers based on the number of registrants for the March trail ride.

Registration, $50 per person, is available by phone to Trail Master Tom Seay in Culpeper, VA at 540-829-9555 and online at www.bestofamericabyhorseback.com. While the trail ride is limited to 100 horses, nonriders may also participate for the filming of the campfire program with musical entertainment and catered evening meal.

The trail ride will begin the morning of Saturday, March 19th and culminate at the beautifully restored park lodge. Television film crews will follow the trail with the riders as well as the evening program.

The BOABH producers will arrive at Coffee Mill on Wednesday, March 16th and will be available for personal appearances in the community to describe the philosophy of highlighting the best places in America for people to visit, bring their horses and trail ride. They are interested in filming interviews with local residents with early experiences at Lake Fannin when it was a thriving resort and the site of many local school and church events.

For further information and to arrange personal appearances of the RFD-TV staff, contact Bill Jones, Bonham Area Chamber of Commerce.

Bonham High School "Missing Persons"

The 2005 Reunion Committee is in need of help in locating former students of Bonham High School. The all-school reunion is set for June 17-19, 2005.

This week we are focusing on the class of 1973. If you know the address or can provide any information on the location of the following former Bonham High School students, please contact Pam Thompson (903-989-5528) or send an email to pamt@fanninelectric.com.

Class of 1973: Ron Blassingame, Curtis Brown, Steve Brown, Natha Jo Cahoon Yandell, Teresa Clayton, Cathy Curk, Sandra Dancer, Charley Delaney, Eddie Eads, Tommy Lee Hayes, Jeri Joyce Hughes, Jerry Hyepock, Lisa Jaynes, Bobby Johnson, Patty Johnson, Debbie Malone, Debbie McClinn, Joan McClinn, Kathy McDonald, Kenneth R. McEuen, Cheryl McIntyre, Terry McNurlen, Shirley Melton, Glen Pearson, Joy Perry McLemore, Steve B. Payne, Renee Phillips, Karen Porter Mayes, Don K. Neely, Leo Nowak, Phillip Powell, Janice Robinson, Dale Smith, Michael Smith, Samuel Stone, Sheree Watson, Charles West, Sarabeth Wells, Jerry Williams, Teppy Williams

$7,252 Grant for Computers, Software and Instructional Material

IRVING, Texas – Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, has awarded a $7,252 grant to Fannin Community Foundation in Bonham, Texas. This grant will fund the purchase of computers, software and instructional materials to provide basic literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction to residents of Fannin County. The Fannin County Literacy Project, a partnership between Fannin Community Foundation and the Fannin Literacy Council, was created to address the high illiteracy rate in the county.

"Basic adult literacy instruction is a key stepping stone to building a strong community economy," said Steve Banta, Verizon Southwest Region President. "Verizon supports the Fannin County Literacy Project and its volunteers in offering learning opportunities for adults to break the cycle of underachievement and set the path for success."

The Fannin County Literacy Project is a grass-roots effort with a mission to educate citizens who need to increase their basic education (reading) skills or even obtain a GED by expanding offerings currently provided by the Bonham Housing Authority by adding an additional site. Partnerships with the local housing authority, the Family Life Center, the probation office, MHMR, Bonham ISD, Grayson County College, and Workforce Texoma will eliminate duplication and utilize the best resources from each agency. Free basic adult education classes will be held at the two sites, the Housing Authority and the Family Life Center. Two locations will provide a variety of class times and promote the open-entry, open-exit strategy to better serve the community.

Nationwide, Verizon Foundation last year awarded more than 21,000 grants totaling about $70 million to charitable and nonprofit agencies that focus on improving basic and computer literacy, enriching communities through technology, and creating a skilled work force. More than 175 organizations received $3.8 million last year in Texas. The Foundation uses its resources in the United States and abroad to develop partnerships in technology and connect them with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence and the economically and socially disadvantaged.

The Verizon Foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that last year encouraged Verizon employees to volunteer more than 500,000 hours in their communities and provided $27.8 million in combined contributions to charitable and nonprofit organizations. For more information on the Verizon Foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

Both the Family Life Center and the Bonham Housing Authority would welcome your donation of time and/or dollars towards this project. As with any program of this type, volunteers are always needed. If you would like to volunteer for this project, please contact the Family Life Center 903-583-1918 or the Bonham Housing Authority 903-583-3336.

Reverse mortgages are still fairly new to Texas and Mary Beth Watson (former Bonham Rotarian) with Clockwise, LLC gave the Bonham Rotarians an informative slide presentation on this new concept of leveraging your home equity. If you are 62 years old or older and own your home, you qualify for a reverse mortgage. There are many reasons why a home owner (or buyer) may want to apply for a reverse mortgage. Many senior citizens are doing so to improve their cash flow for medications, etc. The payout can be monthly or in a lump sum, and they pay no income tax. To find out more about a reverse mortgage, give Mary Beth a call at 903-587-2781.

The Bonham Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 12 Noon at the Family Life Center.

It was erroneously reported that Bonham State Bank is partially sponsoring the royalties for Red River Theatre’s production of Driving Miss Daisy scheduled for the last weekend in February and the first weekend in March. It should have been reported that the sponsor for this production is Fannin Bank. We apologize for any embarrassment incurred by either bank for the error.

Thanks,

Pat Ward, President

Red River Theatre

Company, Inc.

Hometown Military News

Army National Guard Pfc. Christopher A. Roder has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Knox, Ky.

During the nine-week training period, the trainee received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons, rifle marksmanship and bayonet training, chemical warfare, field training and tactical exercises, armed and unarmed combat, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, traditions, and core values.

He is the son of Brian and Cindy Roder of Bells, Texas.

Roder is a 2004 graduate of Bells High School.